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Elevator Etiquette question

J

Jeraden

Platinum Member
I have an elevator etiqutte question that always gives me a dilemma. Normally, being a guy, I always let the women off the elevator first and I get off last. That seems normal acceptable etiquette.

Now, the problem arises is when I get off at my floor, there are a series of 3 doors I have to pass through in order to get to our actual office area. So, when there's another female on the elevator, if I let her go off first, then it means I'm forcing her to open 3 doors and let me follow behind. So by letting her off first, its like I'm letting her do all the work and I'm taking the lazy approach by following. But if I get off first, then its like I'm being rude by getting out before her. But if I do get off first, then what do I do at the doors? Normally I'd hold the door open and let her go through first, but since there are 3 doors in a row, I can only do that once, which again makes her do more work than me. The way that actually seems the most "chivalrous" to me is to get off the elevator first, open all the doors and let her just follow behind. But then it seems like thats the most rude as I'm always putting myself ahead. I guess I could run ahead and open the door, let her go through, then go ahead to the next door. But that just seems obnoxious and that I'm trying too hard since the doors aren't really that far apart.

Yeah, its a stupid question, but I always feel awkward. How would the rest of you handle it?
 
It is an office. You are equals. You do not need to be holding doors for women. They are not your dates. They are co-workers.
 
Let the lady go first off the elevator, try to get the door. Don't run her over to get the next, she'll understand why you can't get them all.
 
you are thinking to much of this...
i would get off the elevator if i was in front of her. I would let her get off first if she was in front of me. (whomever can get off easier will get off first) and that will settle it.

 
Originally posted by: lancestorm
It is an office. You are equals. You do not need to be holding doors for women. They are not your dates. They are co-workers.
Click to expand...
...and you ain't from the south. 🙂

*clicks profile, whoa, way not south*
 
Originally posted by: Jeraden
I have an elevator etiqutte question that always gives me a dilemma. Normally, being a guy, I always let the women off the elevator first and I get off last. That seems normal acceptable etiquette.

Now, the problem arises is when I get off at my floor, there are a series of 3 doors I have to pass through in order to get to our actual office area. So, when there's another female on the elevator, if I let her go off first, then it means I'm forcing her to open 3 doors and let me follow behind. So by letting her off first, its like I'm letting her do all the work and I'm taking the lazy approach by following. But if I get off first, then its like I'm being rude by getting out before her. But if I do get off first, then what do I do at the doors? Normally I'd hold the door open and let her go through first, but since there are 3 doors in a row, I can only do that once, which again makes her do more work than me. The way that actually seems the most "chivalrous" to me is to get off the elevator first, open all the doors and let her just follow behind. But then it seems like thats the most rude as I'm always putting myself ahead. I guess I could run ahead and open the door, let her go through, then go ahead to the next door. But that just seems obnoxious and that I'm trying too hard since the doors aren't really that far apart.

Yeah, its a stupid question, but I always feel awkward. How would the rest of you handle it?
Click to expand...

Wow...just wow. I agree, very perplexing. I'd say it would be "chivalrous" to let her out first, as people don't normally think ahead. however, if you are trying to get on her good side, bring it up in the elavator and offer to go ahead and open the door.
 
There are times when you hold the door, and times when you don't.

If you have to keep hauling ass to overtake her and make it to the next door, you'll just look like you're trying too hard.

I'm not sure how I would handle it - but I definitely wouldn't let it trouble me.

:beer:
 
I would get out first, but usually I don't really think about letting the woman get out first...If I'm in the front of the elevator then I leave first. If I'm in the back of the elevator, obviously I leave last. As far as elevator etiquette is concerned, if I'm in the elevator, I always push the floor button for the person and I always hold my gas in. 😛 Oh yeah, and no talking on the cellphone in the elevator.
 
Originally posted by: PHiuR
you are thinking to much of this...
i would get off the elevator if i was in front of her. I would let her get off first if she was in front of me. (whomever can get off easier will get off first) and that will settle it.
Click to expand...

lol that part made me laugh. not very chivalrous. the women should always get off first. 😛
 
Originally posted by: PHiuR
you are thinking to much of this...
i would get off the elevator if i was in front of her. I would let her get off first if she was in front of me. (whomever can get off easier will get off first) and that will settle it.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Why make this more complicated than it actually is?
 
do you carry a backpack or a briefcase?

get off the elevator after her, then look busy for a few minutes until she's far ahead of you that it won't look as if she's opening doors for you.
easy to do if you have a bag you can rummage through to "look for" something.
 
Well, its not just one particular girl, just that there are 12 women in our office (and 6 guys). So it happens fairly often. We're on one of the highest floors, so when getting off its usually just 2 of us on the elevator, so nobody is really in the back or in the front anymore than the other person. Just trying to do the most polite thing.
 
Originally posted by: Jeraden
Well, its not just one particular girl, just that there are 12 women in our office (and 6 guys). So it happens fairly often. We're on one of the highest floors, so when getting off its usually just 2 of us on the elevator, so nobody is really in the back or in the front anymore than the other person. Just trying to do the most polite thing.
Click to expand...

pics of all 12....now 😛
 
Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
Originally posted by: PHiuR
you are thinking to much of this...
i would get off the elevator if i was in front of her. I would let her get off first if she was in front of me. (whomever can get off easier will get off first) and that will settle it.
Click to expand...

lol that part made me laugh. not very chivalrous. the women should always get off first. 😛
Click to expand...

😉
 
you never contemplated this when holding the door for a woman when there's a 2nd door in front of her ? What do you do then ? Run ahead of her and get it again ? :laugh: It happens... at least you showed you cared enough...
 
Originally posted by: lancestorm
It is an office. You are equals. You do not need to be holding doors for women. They are not your dates. They are co-workers.
Click to expand...

Politeness doesn't die just because you walk through the front door at work.

Chivalry++
 
Dunno about proper etiquette, but the correct thing to do is to get off first and then open the door for her. People won't notice if you let them get off the elevator first, but they will notice if you open a door for them.
 
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